Governor Ted Strickland and Attorney General Richard Cordray are asking the Obama administration to convene a summit by July 19 to make plans for constructing a permanent barrier to block the infiltration of the Asian carp into the Great Lakes.

They are also asking construction of a physical barrier start within 30 days of the summit.

In a letter to the president the two write “…this is still a preventable multi-billion dollar ecological disaster, but the window is closing.”

Last month, a live Asian carp was caught by commercial fishermen in Lake Calumet near Chicago – past an electrical barrier designed to stop it. And earlier DNA sampling has found traces of the carp in the Chicago Area Waterway System, a tributary of the Great Lakes.

“We are aware of your Administration’s current efforts to protect the Great Lakes from the significant harm that would come from Asian carp,” the letter says. “But, thus far chemical and electric barriers have proven ineffective, as Asian carp have been found increasingly farther into the tributaries of the Great Lake basin and well past the electric barriers. This is the time for bold, decisive action, which is why we are asking for an aggressive timeline to begin building physical, permanent barriers.”

The Ohio Department of Transportation intends to host an informational meeting this month to update the public on the I-280/Wheeling Street widening project.

Theresa Pollick, a spokesperson for ODOT’s district 2, said the department is talking with the project contractor to schedule a date for the meeting.

On June 28, ODOT closed the northbound Wheeling lane, between Pickle and Brown roads, and established a detour route along Brown, Coy, and Pickle roads.

The detour will be in effect through November but ODOT stated that although some drives will be restricted, alternate drives will be maintained to allow access to and from residential and commercial areas.

The project includes widening Wheeling from Navarre Avenue to Pickle Road, including the bridge over I-280.

According to ODOT, the contractor will establish lane closures and restrictions on Wheeling. Motorists should expect intermittent lane restrictions in both directions on Wheeling, from Navarre to Munding Drive, for pavement work through September.

A resolution to begin the process of putting two levies for funding road improvement projects on the November ballot has been approved by the Lake Township trustees.

Following a recommendation by Dan McLargin, township road supervisor, the trustees are leaning toward seeking the replacement of a 1-mill, 5-year levy due to expire at the end of the year and asking voters to pass a new 1-mill, continuing levy.

Many roads have fallen into disrepair, the trustees said, because the existing levy, which is based on 1986 property valuations when it was originally passed, only generates about $114,670 annually.

If it is replaced rather than renewed by voters, the existing levy would be based on current valuations and generate about $169,000 annually. A new levy would also be based on current valuations and generate that amount.

One option the trustees discussed was to let the replacement levy expire at the end of five years if the continuing issue is approved.

Last year, it cost the township about $60,000 a mile to repair roads, according to Melanie Bowen, a trustee. Consequently, the trustees are seeing a growing backlog of roads that need major repairs.

Bill aims to stop scam artists in wake of stormsState Representative Dennis Murray (D-Sandusky) is a co-sponsor of a bill that aims to protect homeowners from scam artists posing as contractors after residences are damaged by severe weather.

Murray said the bill will establish several consumer protection practices in home improvement contracts by requiring contracts to be in writing and detail the identity of the contractors.

It will also limit the amount that a homeowner will have to pay as a down payment or deposit for work yet to be completed and requires contractors to maintain a minimal level of insurance.

If it becomes law it would be enforced using remedies available under the existing consumer sales practices act, he said.

Murray represents the 80th district, which includes Erie County and much of Ottawa County.

Area residents are invited to experience one of the region’s largest Japanese animation and cultural gatherings as Owens Community College serves host to the second annual GarasuNoShiCon (Glass City Convention), July 17-18.

Presented by Owens’ Anime Convention and Gamers United clubs, GarasuNoShiCon will take place on Saturday from 10 a.m.-11 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. in the College’s Audio/Visual Classroom Center, Student Health and Activities Center, Math/Science Center and Center for Fine and Performing Arts on the Toledo-area campus in Perrysburg Township. The event is free and the public is encouraged to attend.

The event will feature an array of activities highlighted anime screenings, video gaming, an electronic music dance, a cosplay competition, a fire show and entertainment panel discussions, as well as a number of vendors and featured artists.

Owens’ anime convention will commence with an opening ceremony at 10:30 a.m. in the College’s Audio/Visual Classroom Center. Following welcome remarks, convention attendees will have the opportunity to participate in several video, card-based and tabletop gaming activities to include a Pokéwalker Meet-Up, Living Forgotten Realm Adventure, Pathfinder Society Adventures and Dungeon Delve.